Best Bluetooth audio glasses and sunglasses for 2022 – CNET [CNET]

Audio glasses, which have integrated microspeakers and a Bluetooth connection, are multiplying. Bose is leading the way with its Frames audio sunglasses. Amazon is also in the Bluetooth-glasses game with its Echo Frames, now on their second generation. 

A host of other companies, many of which are no-name Chinese manufacturers, have released audio glasses in recent months. Some are geared toward everyday use, allowing you to forgo headphones and stealthily listen to audio on the go, while others are designed for runners and bikers who want to leave their ears open to the world for safety reasons.

The truth is that most audio sunglasses don’t sound good — and many sound downright bad — especially those using bone conduction technology instead of traditional audio drivers. The glasses’ tiny embedded speakers fire audio into your ears, but that audio tends to be lacking in bass and clarity. The sound is typically on par with what a pair of free earbuds you’d get on a plane would produce — and sometimes it’s worse. They also tend to leak sound at higher volumes, which means people who are standing nearby can hear your audio. 

That said, if you listen to more spoken-word audio — whether that’s podcasts, audiobooks or talk radio — audio glasses are fine since they’re strongest in the midrange, where vocals live. And most of the audio glasses on this list work well for making phone calls. Some feature beam-forming microphones and bone conduction technology. 

Aside from audio quality, the other important factor is the glasses’ design. There’s a lot of variation there as well, with some models fitting better and looking more stylish than others.

Read more: Best places to buy replacement prescription lenses online in 2022

It should be noted that you can add prescription lenses to most audio sunglasses, and it’s easy to send your glasses to an online replacement lens site. However, that adds to the overall cost, since replacement lenses generally cost around $100 to $200, depending on the type of lens you choose. 

While I’m only recommending a few models at this point, I’ll update this list as new ones are released. More should be coming with improvements.